Our vision is to be a leading public university of technology recognised for our global impact. We are a dynamic and innovative university, ranked by the Times Higher Education as Australia’s top young university, and located centrally in one of the world’s most liveable cities. With a culturally diverse campus life and extensive international exchange and research programs, UTS prepares graduates for the workplaces of today and tomorrow, and endeavours to undertake excellent research that delivers global impact.

About the Research Office

The Research Office is a central unit within the portfolio of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) and supports research activities across UTS in partnership with the faculty research offices and other support units, including identifying and accessing research funding, contracts, ethics, post-award, IP management and commercialisation and research data intelligence. To constantly improve how we support our researchers, the Research Office is adopting a new operational team structure.

The Research Office is seeking to recruit a second Research Ethics Officer to join the team.

About the role

The Research Ethics Officers advise on the research ethics and biosafety application processes for the University, and provides support to the Research Ethics Administrator, Senior Research Ethics Officer, Research Ethics Manager, Chairpersons and members of the University's ethics and biosafety committees, academic staff and students. The Research Ethics Officers share the committees, and this specific role will cover the Health and Medical Research Ethics Committee (a human research ethics committee) and the Institutional Biosafety Committee. Some overlap may occur with the other Research Ethics Officer as required (e.g., during periods of leave, or influx of applications). The human research ethics component of this role accounts for 70% of the workload, therefore we are especially interested in someone with experience in a HREC secretariat or similar. This position is full time and will be made on a fixed term basis until August 2023.

Responsibilities:

• Ensure smooth functioning of a Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC), Health & Medical Research Ethics Committee (MREC), Executive Review Committee (ERC), Animal Care & Ethics Committee (ACEC) and Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), including preliminary-review and oversight of ethics applications, technical minute-writing for committee meetings and reviewing of responses to committee queries/comments.
• Provide high level advice, based on a sound understanding of the relevant ethics polices and guidelines, and a broad range of research methodologies, to students, and staff on the preparation and/or revision of ethics applications and/or participant materials, and at other stages in the ethics review process for assigned departments and schools, including at training and seminars
• Plan, coordinate and attend the annual cycle of inspections for the ACEC and IBC, auditing of ACEC and IBC files and monitoring of animal numbers
• Establish and maintain effective liaison and quality customer service with researchers and relevant sections of the University, including administrative divisions, Schools and Faculties and external organisations
• Develop and deliver training materials and workshops for staff, students and Committee members on online ethics forms and processes
• Assist Senior Research Ethics Officer with the preparation of high-quality reports (internal and external) on the Committee functions

With examples, please outline in a separate document how you meet the following seven (7) key selection criteria points below:

• A high level of accuracy, literacy, numeracy and attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills, and strong verbal and written communication skills.
• The ability to prioritise and carry out a diverse range of competing tasks to a high standard.
• A thorough understanding of human ethics review processes, and familiarity with animal ethics and biosafety review processes in the higher education setting.
• Familiarity with current legislation, standards and codes of practice relating to human research ethics, and the capacity to develop familiarity with current legislation, standards and codes of practice relating to animal welfare and biosafety, including their implications for the conduct of research in a university environment.
• Prior experience in the Ethics Secretariat of an institutional human research ethics committee (additional prior experience with an animal ethics or biosafety committee would be an advantage).
• Provision of good committee support, including minute-writing.

For the full list of the selection criteria and role responsibilities please click the apply link and download the Position Description from the UTS website. A Position Description is also attached.

Remuneration & Benefits

Base Salary Range: $84,091 to $91,049 pa (HEW 6)

This role attracts 17% superannuation (pension) in addition to the base salary.

UTS staff also benefit from a wide range of Employee Benefits include flexible work practices, child care centres, generous parental leave and salary packaging opportunities.

This position is full-time and appointment will be made on a fixed term basis until August 2023.

How to Apply

In addition to your resume and cover letter, you are required to address the selection criteria in your submission in a separate document.​

Only those applications submitted via the UTS online recruitment system will be accepted.

Please ensure that the file name for each document submitted includes IRC217249 and your name

Specific enquiries or issues with your application may be directed to the UTS Recruitment Team at [email protected] using the subject line: Research Ethics Officer enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Applicants must have current and valid work rights in Australia